Mike Brook's The Splinter King takes the events of the first novel (The Black Coast) and sets them free within the larger world he's created - his characters begin to see their actions and decisions reverberate across the land, and they must deal with the consequences. Brooks continues to worldbuild, with each protagonist followed exposing more and more of the realms he's created. I like the way Brooks has managed to mesh multiple inspirations into his world - he doesn't pigeonhole any characters into just one "type" or background, but takes their experiences and history into consideration as they develop. You can also tell that Brooks enjoys the stories he develops - the plot grows and widens, not shoehorned into following one linear path. Plus, I'm pretty sure he makes an attack helicopter joke that left me chuckling out loud. All in all, this is a great second book in a great series - it's well worth your time to check out.